Portable partition structures and locking means therefor



Dec. 9, 1958 w. G. FRENCH 2,863,532

PORTABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 9. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR Dec. 9, 1958 w. G. FRENCH I 2,863,532

PORTABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR Dec. 9, 1958 w. G. FRENCH 2,863,532

PORTABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J0 g2 45 7 16, "o mg";

I I 5a 6 46 i I I I 5 i munmwmuu i i f T i 27 HHIIIIIH IHIHII H l F INVENTORR Z fiZ/zm fifff'a/iav l appended claims.

nited States Patent Ori ice 2,863,532 Patented Dec. 9, 1958 PORTABLE PARTITION STRUCTURES AND LGCKENG MEANS THEREFOR William G. French, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Aetna Steel Products Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Application December 9, 1954, SerialNo. 474,200

7 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to work station fixtures, and more particularly to portable partition-forming structures of the general character disclosed in my co-pcn'ding application Serial No. 312,309, filed September 30, 1952, now Patent No. 2,747,236.

The aforementioned co-pendi'ng application discloses portable partition-forming structures which generally comprise longitudinally spaced and vertically disposed posts with a panel unit disposed between each pair of posts. These panel units preferably comprise a lower opaque pan'el unit upon which an upper transparent or translucent panel is mounted. These panel units have releasable connections with the posts for ready assembly of any desired form of partition or partitions to suit any particular working conditions. These releasable connections include a headed stud on each post and a leaf spring in each end of the panel unit, the end wall of the panel unit and the spring having keyhole slots for receiving and engaging the headed stud, the spring acting on the stud to bias the post and panel unit together and provide a snug connection therebetween. To connect the panel'unit and post, they are juxtaposed with the stud extending through the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots and the units are then lowered on the stud so that its'head engages the spring on opposite sides of the narrow portions of the slot.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with the releasable interlocking connections of the panel units with the posts and constitutes an improvement over the corresponding structure of the aforementioned copending application.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide simple interlocking means between spaced vertical posts and intervening panel units of a portable partition-formin'g structure which provides for initial assembly of the posts and partition units upon mutual movements thereof in horizontal planes with a subsequent tensioned locking connection therebetween. v

it is another object of the invention to provide connecting means for releasably connecting posts and panel units in portable partition-forming structures and which have simplicity of design, economy of construction, ease of assembly and efficiency in operation.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forthwith particularity in the The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages'there'of, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a broken fragmen'tal longitudihal vertical sectional view showing'the interlocking means between one post and an adjacent vertical edge of a lower panel; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of one of the panel units;

plane of line 3-3 on Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmental side elevational view of a partition unit including the upper panel and in which the present invention is incorporated;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 on Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 and disclosing a modifiedembodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view in the plane of line 7-7 on Figure 8; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of line 8-8 on Figure 6. v

Referring now in detail to the drawings and specifically to Figures 1 to 5 thereof, a portable partition structure may comprise a vertically disposed tubular post it which, as shown more particularly in Figure 5, includes four major right angularly disposed side walls 11; each of the four corners of the post includes a pair of side walls 12 substantially at angles of 45 to the side walls 11, while the adjacent edges of said side walls 12 merge into the bases of a pair of right angularly disposed walls 13, which bases intersect in an edge 14. The posts may, in fact, be considered as of square section comprising four side walls 13 with each having a projection including a major wall 11 and opposite side minor walls 12; such minor walls providing aseat for a lower panel unit, as will later appear.

The lower panel units 15 each comprises a pair of parallel side walls 16 which are spaced apart the'same distance as opposite side walls 11 of the posts. The opposite vertical edge portions of the walls 116 are turned inwardly to provide relatively narrow inwardly inclined walls 17 which merge into relatively narrow walls 18 which align with the walls 13 of the posts 10. The walls 18 merge into relatively narrowwalls 19, 20 and 21 which respectively abut walls 13, 12 and 11 of the posts and the opposite vertical edge portions of walls 21 terminate in inwardly converging relatively narrow walls 22 having flanges 23 formed toward each other.

The oppositeside walls 16 ofpanel units 15 are formed at the top with an inward portion 16a to provide a depressed seat 24 for receiving the lower horizontal edge of an upper panel unit and the inturned portions 16a are suitably connected below the seat 24 by abutting flanges 25. The connected flanges 25', however, are eliminated adjacent opposite ends of the panel units 15 to provide slots 26 for purposes later to appear. The panel unit 15 is provided at its lower horizontal edge with a downwardly opening channel 27 and at intermediate top and bottom edges thereof with reinforcements 28 and 29; the: reinforcements 28 provide a base for attaching suitable trim 30.

The present invention comprises novel means for removably connecting the posts it) and panel units 15 and for this purpose the posts are provided with suitable feet 31 and with a pair of vertically spaced inserts 32, each of which comprises a base 33 having a central aperture 34, and four rectangular cars 35 projecting from one side of the base and which ears engage and are suitably secured internally of the post side walls 11 as shown in Figure 5. The cars 35 are each provided with a tapped aperture 36 into one or more of which is inserted the threaded end 37 of a post stud 38.

As indicated in Figure l, the posts preferably are adapted to support two vertically spaced studs 38 on each side wall 11 to which a panel unit is to be secured. The two vertically spaced studs provide a rigid connection vertically. In the assembly of the posts and panel units, a first panel unit in vertical position is moved horizontally toward a post or the post and panel unit are moved toward each other; next a second post is moved into position at the other end of the first panel unit and then a second panel unit is moved toward the second 3 post etc., when a straight line of posts and panels are being erected. Of course, one or two branch partitions may be formed by abutting the ends of the panel units against other sides of the posts.

Each panel unit is provided with an inwardly facing vertical channel member 39 which has secured thereto the corresponding ends of a pair of vertically spaced leaf springs 41, the opposite ends 42 of which are inclined outwardly. The springs are preferably secured by rivets 41a whose shanks are provided with bases 4112 received in openings 41c in the vertical edge portions 22, 23 of the panel wall 21 as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. A lock bar 43 is vertically disposed inwardly of the springs 41 and is constrained to vertical sliding movement by means of one or more guides consisting of a headed pin 44 supported by the base of channel member 3 and extending through a vertically elongated slot 45 in the lock bar. The panel unit edges and channel member 39 and the springs 41 are provided with apertures 39 and 41 respectively, of a size to receive the studs 38.

The studs 38 have reduced shanks 38' intermediate their length, providing inwardly tapered heads 46 with outwardly facing shoulders 47. The lock bar 43 is pro vided with key hole slot 48 adjacent each stud, one end of which is of a diameter to receive the head 46 while the remainder thereof is of a width to receive the reduced shank 38' of the stud. The lock bar 43 is further provided with a wedge or cam member 49 adjacent each spring 41, each cam member including an inclined surface 50 opposing the inclined end 42 of the spring. These cam members may be pressed out of the lock bar 43 as shown in Figure 5, or, preferably, they may comprise blocks of nylon to reduce friction.

A short inwardly facing channel member 51 is rigidly secured to the base of the channel member 39 adjacent the upper end thereof and is provided with a transversely disposed fulcrum pin 52 while the lock bar 43 is provided with a vertical slot 53 adjacent the said fulcrum pin. The lock bar 43 is moved vertically a distance equal to the length of the key hole slots 48 by means of a lever or key K shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 1. One end of the key is provided witha slot G which removably straddles the fulcrum pin 52. The key K is inserted through the slot 26 in the upper edge of the panel unit and then through the slot 53 in the lock bar 43 and the slot G is then mounted over the fulcrum pin 53. The key K is then swung about the fulcrum pin 52 for moving the lock bar upwardly or downwardly.

In the assembly operation, the lock bar 43 is in the uppermost position wherein the large ends of the key hole slots 48 are axially aligned with the apertures 39' and 41' so as to receive the stud heads 46, thereby permitting the vertical edge of the panel unit 15 to move into abutting engagement with the post 10 as indicated in Figure 5. Upon movement of the key K to the lowermost position, the narrow portions of the key hole slots 48 are brought beneath the stud heads 46 with the locking bar 43 hearing against the shoulders 47. Upon raising the lock bar 43 the wedges 49 are moved away from the springs 41 while lowering the lock bar 43, the cam wedges 49 are lowered and bear against the upper ends 50 of the springs 41 so that the springs are tensioned by the cam wedges so that the lock bar is yieldably maintained in taut engagement with the stud heads 46 and the panel unit 15 and post 10 are biased into snug engagement.

It is to be particularly observed that the specific contour of the posts 10 and the opposite ends of the panels 15 have a two-fold function. First, the cooperating vertical wall portions 11, 12 and 13 of the post provide a guide and interlock for the panels in vertical planes for quick and accurate alignment and engagement of the posts and panels. This interlock precludes light gaps and a marked and pleasant external appearance is provided because the walls 11 of the posts 3 7'; in the same vertical planes of the panel walls 16 while the wall portions 12, 13 of the posts and wall portions 17, 18

of the panels provide bevel edged vertical channels with the result that the assembled posts and panels provide the effect of alternating long and short panels enhanced by the intervening vertical channels.

Figure 4 illustrates an upper panel 54 which is connected to the posts 10 by channel members 55 of the general character disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 354,235, filed on May 11, 1953, and which are modified to properly engage the post 10. The posts 10 are provided with caps 56 which, as disclosed in my said co-pending application, may be utilized to hold the upper ends of the channel members 55 in post engaging position.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 which provides means, unitary with panels, for effecting locking and unlocking of the panels to the posts. In this embodiment of the invention, the parts are identical to the previously described embodiment except that the lock bar 43a is provided at its upper end with an inwardly directed horizontal flange 58 which is provided with a tapped aperture 59. A bracket 60 having a vertical flange 61 and a horizontal flange 62 is secured by the vertical flange to the base of channel member 39 at the upper end thereof with the horizontal flange 62 overhanging the lock bar flange 58. The flange 62 is provided with an aperture 63 vertically aligned with the tapped aperture 59 in the flange 58.

A vertically disposed screw bolt 64 is swivelly supported in the aperture 63, as by means of split rings 65 on opposite sides of the flange 62, and the lower threaded end of said bolt is operatively engaged within the tapped aperture 59. The bolt is provided with a head 66 which is tool accessible through the slot 26 in the upper edge of the panel unit 15, whereby upon turning of the bolt the lock bar 43a is readily raised or lowered to effect unlocking or locking of the posts and panels. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage over the first disclosed embodiment in that there are no loose parts, such as the key K, which, if lost or misplaced, will cause delay in assembly operations.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a partition-forming structure wherein a panel unit having a vertical edge wall of a transverse configuration to substantially conform to an abutted portion of a post fixedly carrying a stud having an enlarged head insertable in said panel unit, the improvement in said panel unit comprising locking means for interengaging the enlarged head of the stud and including a shiftable member concealed within said panel unit for rendering said locking means operative and inoperative, said shiftable member being provided with a keyhole slot which receives the head in one portion of the member and locks the head in another portion thereof, spring means disposed within the panel intermediate said edge wall and said shiftable member, and cam means carried by the shiftable member and operative to tension the spring means upon movement of the member to locking position to bias the edge wall and post together. 1

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said shiftable member comprises a vertically disposed bar having a vertical slot therein adjacent its upper end, and a fulcrum pin supported by the panel adjacent said slot adapted to be engaged by one end of a key, the body portion of which is extendable through said slot for vertically shifting the bar upon rotation of the key about said fulcrum pin,

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said shiftable member comprises a vertically disposed bar having a horizontal flange on its upper end, a tapped aperture in said flange, a screw bolt swivelly supported by said panel and having threaded engagement with said aperture, said bolt having an operating head accessible through a slot in the upper edge wall of said panel.

4. The structure according to claim 1, including means at the upper portion of the panel for moving said shiftable member for rendering said locking means operative or inoperative.

5. A panel unit for connection with a post having a headed stud, said panel unit comprising an end wall engageable with the post, and locking means cooperative with the head of the stud to secure the panel unit to the post, said locking means including a spring attached to a wall of the panel unit, a shiftable member concealed within the panel unit and provided with a keyhole slot .to receive the head of the stud, cam means integral with said shiftable member and movable therewith to tension the spring upon movement of the member to locking position, and means at the upper portion of the panel unit for moving said shiftable member for rendering said locking means operative or inoperative.

6. A panel unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said shiftable member comprises a vertically disposed bar having a horizontal flange on its upper end and an internally threaded portion, a screw member supported by said panel unit and having threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the flange, said screw member having an operating head accessible through a slot in the upper edge wall of the panel unit.

7. A panel unit as defined in claim 5, wherein said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,576 Sanford May 30, 1893 609,685 Leonard Aug. 23, 1898 826,621 Sticht July 24, 1906 939,039 Lawrence Nov. 2, 1909 1,236,142 Brogden Aug. 7, 1917 1,785,025 Felsenthal Dec. 16, 1930 1,946,675 Driver Feb. 13, 1934 1,980,900 Bemis Nov. 13, 1934 1,998,448 Crowe Apr. 23, 1935 2,040,385 Kellogg May 12, 1936 2,079,635 Sharp May 11, 1937 2,093,027 Boenecke Sept. 14, 1937 2,148,789 Unger Feb. 28, 1939 2,323,674 Purkiss July 6, 1943 2,417,756 Hillenbrand Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 649,008 France Dec. 17, 1928 

